September 07, 2011

IndyCar Race at Baltimore Gets 0.60 TV Rating

From IndyCar.com ...

The inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix on Sept. 4 was a hit with the TV viewing audience in addition being a spectator extravaganza.

The race on the 2.04-mile, 12-turn temporary street course was the second highest-rated IZOD IndyCar Series race ever on VERSUS (.60) -- more than 100 percent increase over the 2010 race on the same date.

VERSUS was the No. 1-rated network overall in Baltimore during the 2:45-5 p.m. broadcast (5.03 rating), and was the No. 1 cable network (1.98) and No. 2 network overall during the time period in Indianapolis.

Ratings are up more than 25 percent over 2010 through 10 IZOD IndyCar Series races on VERSUS. The network will broadcast the next two races -- Sept. 17 (11:30 p.m. ET) from Twin Ring Motegi in Japan and Oct. 2 (2 p.m. ET) from Kentucky Speedway.

Uncomfortable truths monster would like everyone to take a look at the rating of street circuits vs. ovals this year. No, go ahead, I'll wait.

Waiting ...

Waiting ...

See? Not as clear-cut as we thought, huh?

I'm a big fan of oval racing. I frightened my in-laws screaming at the TV when Carpenter and Briscoe were wheel to wheel at Kentucky. But I do wonder if the "core fans" sometimes overthink things and skew their perception of what potential casual fans (ie, the people who the series would love to get to watch) will find really cool.